Genetically boosting neurons restores memory in Alzheimer's mice

Scientists have found that increasing the production of new neurons in mice with Alzheimer's disease (AD) rescues memory deficits in these animals

New neurons are generated from neural stem cells through the process of neurogenesis

"However, the role of newly formed neurons in memory formation, and whether deficits in neurogenesis contribute to AD-related cognitive impairment, remains unclear," said Orly Lazarov, professor of anatomy and cell biology at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Medicine.

The new study shows that boosting neurogenesis increases the number of newly formed neurons in the hippocampus of AD mice, which are involved in storing and retrieving memories

In the new study at JEM, Lazarov and his colleagues promoted neurogenesis in AD mice by genetically increasing the survival of neuronal stem cells

By fluorescently labeling neurons that activate during memory retrieval and retrieval, scientists have found that in the brains of healthy mice, the neural circuits involved in storing memories include many newly formed neurons and older, more mature neurons

Further analysis of the neurons that form memory storage circuits showed that boosting neurogenesis also increased the number of dendritic spines

Lazarov and colleagues demonstrated their importance for memory formation by specifically inactivating newly formed neurons in the brains of AD mice

"Our study shows for the first time that hippocampal neurogenesis disorders play a role in AD-related memory deficits by reducing immature neurons that form memory," Lazarov said

Reference: Augmenting neurogenesis rescues memory impairments in Alzheimer's disease by restoring the memory-storing neurons